Supersedure vs. Swarm: How to Identify Queen Cells

One of the most frequent questions we hear new beekeepers ask is how to tell supersedure cells from swarm cells. While at first it may seem difficult to tell these two types of queen cells apart, with a little help you’ll find you can identify which one is which.

What is a Cell?

To understand the difference between a supersedure cell and a swarm cell, it is helpful to understand the terms and the function these cells serve in the hive. In its most general form, the term “cell” is used to describe any type of closed space created from wax by bees. Using this basic definition, comb is simply a series of interconnected cells that are used to store honey and pollen, and to protect developing brood.

Why Do Bees Make Queen Cells?

However, when beekeepers talk about cells, they are typically referring to queen cells. As the name implies, queen cells are where larva develop and mature into new queens. They are typically around one inch long, have a rough surface texture, and are shaped like a peanut shell. Colonies usually produce new queens for one of two distinct reasons.

In the first case, the existing queen is not producing enough brood to keep the colony viable. This can happen when the queen is aging or ill, has run out of genetic material needed to fertilize her eggs, or has died. To keep up the colony numbers, the bees produce a new queen to take over the responsibility of laying eggs.

In the second case, the bees have determined that the colony is too large for their current hive. In this situation, a portion of the bees will prepare to leave the hive with the existing queen. Together, they search for a new location in a migration known as swarming.

Supercedure queen cells

What is a Supersedure Cell?

When a colony is raising a new queen to replace the aging, ill or missing queen, they produce supersedure cells. The new queen that emerges from the cell will take over from, or supersede, the old queen. To boost the odds of producing a healthy new queen, the colony creates several supersedure cells at the same time. In most cases, the first one to emerge will become the new queen.

Beekeepers usually find supersedure cells on the comb face, extending out from the surface and hanging downwards. With most varieties of honey bees, the colony will produce between one and three supersedure cells at one time.

Swarm queen cells

What is a Swarm Cell?

By contrast, swarm cells produce a new queen to take the place of the one preparing to leave the hive. Typically, the bees produce many swarm cells and the strongest of these new queens takes over the production of new brood for the colony.

Most beekeepers report seeing three or more swarm cells of variable age in their hives. Unlike supersedure cells, bees typically create swarm cells long the margins of the comb when the colony is preparing to swarm..